Thermometer.



" P. S. DICKINSON.

THERMOMETER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED DBO. 12, 1008.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

w/mfssss CkRLM-A TTUHNEY #Y thermometer is ycapable of a vcertain cush i UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

FAIRLEIGH S. DICKINSON, 0F RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

To all whom 'itimay concern.'

Be it known that I, FAIRLEIGH S. DickinsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutherford, county of Ber en, and State of .New Jersey, have invente certain new .and useful Improvements in Thermometers` of which the following. is a specification.

` This invention relates to certain improvements in thermometers, and more particu-l larly'in clinical thermometers, and has for its object to provide, for use in such devices generally, means of a comparatively simple and inexpensive nature and of a novel and limproved construction whereby after use of the thermometer, the mercurial columnor thread thereof may be quickly and conveniently lowered Without danger' of breakage 'such as isliable to occur during the shaking required in clinical thermometers of ordinary construction for accomplishing the return of the mercurial Vcolumn or thread to the cup.

'The' invention. consists in a thermometer one end of which is provided with a handle 4portion or member permanently secured thereto, so as tobe capable of being conveniently grasped and securely held by the handduring the manipulation of the therlmometer while in use, or .for the insertion of the s ame within its carrying case or sheath, or its Withdrawal therefrom, and being so constructed and attached to the endl of the thermometer that when the device is shaken inthe ustomam7 fashion to return the inercurial column or thread prior to use, the

'i lionedvibratory movement relatively to the Said handle 'portion or member, whereby the shaking down' of the mercurial column or thread is materially facilitated without lia- .A bility of vbreaking the thermometer.

"'lfhe invention also contemplates certain novel features of the construction of the 1myprovedthermometer, and combinations and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.y

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In order that myl improvements may be Lhe better understood, 5I will ,now proceed to THERMOMETER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 13, 1910, Application led December 12, 1908. Serial No. 467,192.

a fragmentary side elevation, somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but showing another einbodiment of my invention; Fig. 4 is another fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, and illustrating another embodiment of my improvements, .and Fig. 5 is yet another fragmentary side elevation, similar to Figs. 3 and 4, and illustrating still another formation of the device comprised in -my present invention.

Referring first to Figs. l and 2, A represents the 'carrying case or `sheath wherein the thermometer B is adapted to be contained and housed in a well known way when not required for use. As herein shown, this sheathpor carrying case A is provided with an attaching chain 12 whereby it may be attached to the clothing, and is provided at its open end with an interiorly threaded sleeve or furrule 10, adapted for detachable screw connection with an exteriorly threaded plug or collar 15 cemented or otherwise secured upon the upper extremity of the thermometer tube, and which serves not merely to retain the thermometer in position when 'inserted in said sheath or case, but also serves as a closure for the open upper end of said sheath or case to retain the thermometer in place therein. The present invention is not, however, limited to a case or sheath of this peculiar formation, nor in fact to the employment of an inclosing case or sheath of any description, although thermometers provided with my improvements present certain lfeatures of advanta e and novelty whicA render them peculiar y well adapted for employment with such carrying cases or sheaths.

The glass thermometer tube B as herein' illustrated, is of the conventional type, bei 105 'or collar 15, with a mercury cup or bulb 14,

ing provided, at its end opposite to the plug from which the mercurial column or thread 13 1s extendedin a well known way, and

nently connected with one extremity of thethermometer' tube B, the plug or collar 15' affords meansl for the permanent connection of-a resilient handle portion ,or member C with that end of the tube wherewith said plug or collar 15 is connected, such handle portion'or member C comprising, as shown in Figs. 1 andQ, a coil 19 of spring wire one end whereof is permanently secured upon the neck portion 16 produced upon kthe plug 1or collar '15 above the shoulder 16, while the opposite end of said spring vwire coil 1t) is secured upon a neck portion 18 produced upon a knul-led or milled head or enlarge.- nient -17 'adapted tobe securely grasped in the fingers ot' the user. By this alf-rangement of the parts, the upper eiid oi. the portion' or member' C alfords a convenient and secure handle by means of which the instrument may be conveniently'grasped in order thatit may be insertediwithin or removed from the carrying case A, or manipulated during use, the member C prpjecting beyond the threaded feri'ule` 10 oi the case when the insti'umein is sheathed therein so as to facilitate its insertion and removal, and the re-` silient yielding or flexible connection of said member C with the thermometer tube B at'- t'orded by the lower end of thespring` coil 19 ali'oi'ds a convenient means whcreby't'he tube. may bc vibrated or shaken after use in such a manner as to quickly amt et'lectively return the niercurial thread or column to a lowered position without excessive swinging ot the arm ot'lhe usci and without liability ot dropping the instrument or striking the samc upon surrounding objects. 'lhc re- Silicncc ot` llic .tlcxible or yielding connection utl'ordcd by the lower end ol' thc spring coil l) between thc member C and llic thermomclci tube ctlicct ively prevents excessive moveincnt o'tl the tiibc' l relatively to thc handle nicmbcr during shaking down oli thc inslrument. whereby Isaid lubc is prevented .'t'rom bring broken by striking upon thc hand ol' the user. and Asuch resilience ot' said spring coil also assures thc return ot thi` handle member into alincmcnl willi thc lube l. and thcrcby facilitates thc use o'tl the device. y

l"rom lhc yabove. description it `will be seen that the improved lhci'einoincter constructiwl according to my invention is o'l an extremcly simple and comparatively inexpensive nature, and is particularly Well adapted t'or use 'by reason ot' the readiness Wit-h which'it may 'be lshaken dow-n, and, of the eonvenicnceand facility willi which it may be handled, and it will also be evident that the device is susceptible of some 1noditication without material departure from the principles land spirit of the invention and 'portion provided with pivot pins 24, 24 at diametrically opposite sides of its peripheral surface, these pins being pivotally engaged with the exti'eniities of forks23, 23 carried on the handle member C1 and spaced so' as to tit at opposite sides of said neck portion of thel plug. A spiral spring 25 has its upper end secured within the upper end of the handle member, which is made cylindrical as indicated at 22 toreceive said up er end of the spring within it, the lower en of thespring being connected as shown at 26 with the neck portion of plug 15 so that its tension is exerted to retain the tube rB'n'ormally ali'ned With'the handle member while permitting tiexure. at the pivotal connection between thefparts when the thermometer is shaken down.

In Fig. .lt I have shown still another arrangement of the handle member comprised in my present -invention, wherein the plug or collar at the upper end of the thermometer lube, indicated at 2S, has aneu- Ylargement Q8 provided upon its upwardly extended neck portion, said enlargement be- Iing adapted to be securely engaged within the lower-end ot a rubber or other flexible and resilient tube 31, the upper end wliereotl is engaged over a corresponding enlarge'- incnl 3() produced upon thc neck portion of a milled orI kinirled head Q9. 'lhe upper pai-t ol thc member ("f .so constructed ati'o'l'ds a handle adapted to be lsecurely held by the lingers, while. the lower part oi the tube B1 all'oi'ds a resilient tlcxiblev connection with the thermometer tube )crmitting cushioned swinging or vibratory movementV ol. the tube while being shaken down. p

'lhc construct-ion shown in Fig. 5 is quite similar to that shown in Figs. '1 uml Q, excepting that the plug rlis not rigidly con ncclcd with the upper end o't the ther arrangement of the several' niomcter tube B, but has a bore or chamber 3Q provided within it wherein the extremity ot' said l tutal l is adapted for `i certain limited extent otendwise sliding movement,

said end of the tube having a head 36 which engages a ferrule or bushing 35 secured at the mouthof said chamber 32 in such a Way as to prevent removal of the thermometer tube from the cap or plug 34. In this construction the' milled or knul-led head 37 at the upper end of the handle member has an upwardly directed neck portion provided with an enlargement 39 over which is sprung a recessed cushion 35) therein shown as made in spherical forni from rubber or the like land adapted to prevent breakage of the instrument in case the saine be dropped.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A thermometer having a tube, a plug secured at one end thereof and a resilient handle member projecting from and ermanently secured to said plug and inclu ing a spring which permits flexure of the handle member relative to the tube, said plug being provided. with means to hold said handle member against longitudinal movement with relation to the tube.

2. In a thermometer, the combination of a carrying case open at one end, a tube in-V sertible therein and having a plug to detachably engage the open end of the case, and a yrelative to the tube, said plu resilient handle membler permanently connected with the plug and includin a spring lwhich permits flexure of the hand e member being provided With means to huid said andle member against longitudina movement with relation to the tube, said handle member being exterior of the carrying case when the tube is inserted therein.

3. A thermometer having a tube, a plu carried thereby, a handle member pivote to the plug, and means for holding said handle member normally alined with the tube, but permitting llexure at the pivotal .connection between the parts.

4. A thermometer havm a tube, a handle member pivotally carried means for holding said handle member normally alined with the tube but' permitting lexure at the pivotal connection between the parts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 23rd dayof October 1908, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l

' FAIRLEIGH s. DICKINSON;

Witnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, Monms FLOREA.

y said tube, and'V 

